Wow, I didn't know the course could potentially count as a job search activity! That's really helpful. I'll definitely keep detailed documentation of everything. Thanks for the tip!

I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this extensively! From what I've learned, you should be totally fine taking that medical billing course as long as it's part-time and flexible like you described. The 10-15 hours per week sounds perfect. A few things that might help: - When you answer the weekly claim question about school/training, be honest and say yes, but you can usually add notes explaining it's part-time and doesn't interfere with work availability - Keep records of your course schedule and how it doesn't conflict with potential work hours - Medical billing is definitely a growing field, so this could really help your job prospects! I'm actually considering a similar online certification myself. Have you looked into whether completing the course might open up remote work opportunities? That could expand your job search even more. Good luck with both the course and your job search!

One last thought - if you're really worried about it, you could always voluntarily stop claiming benefits now and just budget to get by until your start date. Better safe than sorry if you're concerned about eligibility.

I went through something very similar about 8 months ago. Had a 4-week gap between accepting an offer and starting work. The key thing is being completely transparent on your weekly claims - there's usually a specific question about future employment that you need to answer honestly. I continued receiving benefits during the waiting period without any issues. Just make sure you're still genuinely available for other immediate work if something better came along (even though you probably wouldn't take it). Washington ESD seems pretty reasonable about these situations as long as you're upfront about everything. The fact that your new employer set the start date, not you, also works in your favor.

Last piece of advice - set up direct deposit when you file your claim. Paper checks take forever and can get lost in the mail. Direct deposit is much faster and more reliable.

Just wanted to add - if you're worried about the job search requirements, don't let that delay your filing! You can start with simple things like updating your resume, browsing job boards, or reaching out to former colleagues. Even attending virtual job fairs or career workshops counts toward your weekly search activities. The important thing is to document everything you do. I found that once I got into a routine, meeting the 3 weekly contacts was actually pretty easy and helped keep me motivated during my job search.

This whole situation is ridiculous. ESD is a complete mess since COVID. My claim from 2024 is still "under review" and I call every month only to be told "it's in process" whatever that means. Now I'm scared they'll hit me with some random overpayment too. Good luck with your case!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - what a bureaucratic nightmare! As someone new to this community, I'm shocked reading about how common these vague overpayment notices seem to be. A few thoughts that might help: 1. Document EVERYTHING - it sounds like you're already doing this, but make sure you have timestamped screenshots of any online interactions with ESD, printed copies of all emails, and photos of any physical mail with postmarks clearly visible. 2. Have you considered reaching out to local news stations? Sometimes media attention on these kinds of bureaucratic failures can pressure agencies to resolve cases more quickly. 3. For your Superior Court case, you might want to include a Freedom of Information Act request for any internal ESD communications about your case - sometimes these reveal procedural errors or show that staff knew they made mistakes. The combination of the GI Bill confusion that @Declan Ramirez mentioned plus the timing issues around your move could definitely explain this mess. Hang in there - it sounds like you have a strong case with all the procedural violations!

I went through a similar situation last year when my employer appealed my unemployment claim after a restructuring layoff. It turned out they were automatically appealing all claims as part of their cost-cutting strategy, even though they knew the layoffs were legitimate. The most important thing is to gather all your documentation - layoff notices, emails about the restructuring, anything that shows it wasn't your fault. I also reached out to former coworkers who were laid off at the same time to see if they'd be willing to be witnesses if needed. The hearing itself was pretty straightforward - the judge asked questions about the circumstances and I just told the truth. I won and got my benefits reinstated with back pay for the weeks I missed during the appeal. Don't let them intimidate you - if you were truly laid off due to budget cuts, you have a strong case.

I'm dealing with a similar appeal situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful. My employer also appealed after what was clearly a layoff due to company downsizing. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like many companies do this automatically to try to reduce their unemployment tax burden, even when they know the layoff was legitimate. I've been stressed about the hearing but seeing all these success stories where people won with proper documentation gives me hope. I've saved all my emails about the layoff announcement and my termination letter, so I think I should be in good shape. It's frustrating that we have to go through this extra step when we're already dealing with being unemployed, but at least the process seems fair if you have your facts straight.